The OES visited Mound Cemetery on June 16, 2001. Established in 1801 at the site of Conus Mound in Marietta, Mound Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries of the Northwest Territory. Many of the people who are buried here are the founders and settlers of not only Marietta, but the entire Ohio Country. There are veterans of almost every American war interred in these hallowed grounds. The site is home to the largest number of Revolutionary War officers buried in a single location. Most of the tombstones were in very good condition and the cemetery was well taken care of. Several notable people of Ohio’s early history are buried in the cemetery. Rufus Putnam first landed at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum Rivers and was instrumental in settling the Ohio Country, founding Marietta. Ebenezer Sproat was an original surveyor of Marietta and led the way for settlers. Sproat also served fourteen years as Ohio’s first sheriff. Return Jonathan Meigs Jr was one of Marietta’s first 48 settlers, Ohio’s first postmaster, fourth governor, US Senator and postmaster general. Abraham Whipple was a naval commander during the Revolutionary War. Whipple was responsible for sinking the first British ship of the Revolution and was later taken prisoner at the siege of Charleston, where he was held for the remainder of the war. As with many historical cemeteries, Mound Cemetery is rumored to be haunted. A mysterious blue ball of light has been seen near the mound and a ghostly soldier has been occasionally spotted. Read about first-hand paranormal encounters at the cemetery by clicking here.
Location Information: Active Cemetery
Mound Cemetery is located off 5th Street at Scammel Street in Marietta; Washington County.
Photographs
Mound Cemetery as seen from the road.
The main gates for Mound Cemetery.
This plaque for Mound Square stated the Founder of Marietta set aside the land to be used as a cemetery in 1800.
Mound Cemetery's plaque tells the history of the area and gave the locations of people of interest buried within.
Conus Mound is at the center of Mound Cemetery.
Colonel Robert Taylor was the first interment of Mound Cemetery upon his death on September 30, 1801. This Revolutionary War veteran died at the age of 65.
The tombstone of Jane Taylor, Robert's wife. She died on February 26, 1819.
The tombstone of Revolutionary War Captain Josiah Munro. He was the second postmaster in Marietta and was a Judge of the Court of the Quarter Sessions of the Peace. Josiah also helped establish Marietta College with a donation of $10. He died in August 1801.
The tombstone for Revolutionary War veteran Gershom Flagg. He died in 1792 and was interred at Mound Cemetery at a later date.
An iron fence with graves in between the two sides.
A look at the cemetery grounds.
The interesting memorial for Martha Brainerd. She died in 1852 at about 70-years-old.
The tombstone for Rufus Putnam, who served in both the French and Indian War in 1757 and as a Brigadier General in the Revolutionary War. He helped form the Ohio Company and founded Marietta. He was appointed by President Washington as judge of the Northwest Territory in 1790 and concluded the Treaty of Vincennes in 1792. He died on May 4, 1824.
The tombstone of Revolutionary War veteran Ebenezer Sproat. He also served as the first county sheriff of the Northwest Territory. Sproat was married to Abraham Whipple's daughter Katharine. Ebenezer died on January 7, 1805.
The tombstone of Ohio's 4th Governor, U.S. Senator, Presidential Cabinet Member, Judge, U.S. Army Officer and Attorney Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr. He was a major player in Marietta and Ohio's history. He died on March 29, 1825 at 65.
The memorial for Revolutionary War veteran Abraham Whipple. Whipple was the naval commander of the Continental Navy and the first American to sink a British ship. He died on May 27, 1819.
A closer look at the inscription on Abraham Whipple's tombstone.
Abraham's wife Sarah was also listed on the monument. She died on October 14, 1818 at 79.
This memorial was dedicated to the Revolutionary War veterans buried in Washington County whose graves have been lost.
The dedication plaque for the memorial.
The tombstone of Colonel William Stacy, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. Stacy also served as Foreman of the first Grand Jury in Ohio and was a proprietor of the Ohio Company. He died in 1802 at about 68-years-old.
The tombstone for Reverend Daniel Story, one of the first preachers of the area. He was also the first man to become a Freemason in the Ohio Territory. Rev. Story died on December 30, 1804.
Charles Buck was a Confederate soldier during the Civil War. He was a member of the Louisiana Tigers. He died on April 29, 1866.
Looking up at one of the many tall obelisks in the cemetery.
Another wide view of Mound Cemetery.
A partially broken tomb.
The tombstone for Major William Hart (1775-1836), his wives Sarah (1779-1824) and Mary (1789-1869), and his daughter Matilda (1835-1859).
The tombstone of Civil War Lieutenant George Butler Turner. He was wounded during the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25th, 1863 and died on December 1st.
The tombstone of Revolutionary War Captain Nathaniel Saltonstall, his second wife Lucretia and his two children Polly and John. The captain died August 1, 1807 and Lucretia died on November 11, 1822.
The tomb of Major Joseph Lincoln, a veteran of the Revolutionary War and prominent businessman. He died on September 2, 1807.
The tomb of Revolutionary War veteran John Holt, who died on September 2, 1807.
The tombstone for General Joseph Buell, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He also served as an Ohio State Senator and an Associate Judge. He died on June 13, 1812.
Revolutionary War Major Ezra Putnam's tombstone. Ezra was born June 8, 1729 and died on March 19, 1811.
Ezra's wife Lucy died on July 20, 1818 at 86-years-old.
The tombstone for Revolutionary War Private Andrew McAllister. He died on January 23, 1816.
Private Ephraim Foster's tombstone. He served on the Continental Line during the Revolutionary War. Ephraim died in 1823.
A row of older tombstones.
The tombstone of Isaac Berry, born in 1762, died November 5, 1863.
The tombstone for Shadrack (1809-1876) and Elizabeth Wood (1811-1890). A small bible was placed at the base of the tombstone.
The tombstone for Genison Prentiss and his father Stanton. Genison died in 1834.
His father Captain Stanton Prentiss served during the Revolutionary War. It is believed he was held prisoner aboard the British ship The Old Jersey. The captain died on July 26, 1826.
James Hatch served as a private on the Continental Line during the Revolutionary War. He died in 1839.
The tombstones of War of 1812 veteran Joseph Reckard and his wife Delilah. Joseph died on June 9, 1870 and Delilah died on November 25, 1881.
The tombstone for Revolutionary War veteran John Green. He died on November 11, 1832.
This column-like tombstone extended up into a tree.
The small tombstone of James Dutton, "The Oil King of Ohio."
The Burch tombstone looked like a tree stump.
Several veterans buried side by side.
Captain Nathaniel Dodge's tombstone He served during the Revolutionary War. Nathaniel died on May 13, 1838.
The tombstone for War of 1812 Captain Timothy Buell. He died on February 6, 1837.
There are thousands of burials at Mound Cemetery.
The tombstone of Reverend Thomas Wickes. He died in 1870 at 56-years-old.
The tombstone for Captain Enoch Shepherd, a Revolutionary War veteran. He died on September 27, 1821.
This large monument was our last look at Mound Cemetery.
